Schrade 152OT Sharpfinger

Also we note that the "incised" detail lines were deleted from the belt hangers of the last style sheaths and the scallop was cut in the throat to fit the handle tip.

For reference, this is the 1988 L. L. Bean SFO knife and sheath.
152-LL-Bean-11568779961.jpg

152-LL-Bean-Shield-11568780013.jpg
 
This is one of the first catalog ads for the Sharpfinger that I am aware of, from 1973. I wonder what came of their plan to offer them in a gift box with a sharpening stone?



This was the revised catalog for '73, when they first used the name Schrade Cutlery Corp.

152-1st-Box-11568780296.jpg

Very seldom are these first ones in the rigid box seen complete with papers and stone.
Insert-11568780774.jpg

First-Insert-71568780443.jpg
 
Last edited:
I'm really going to have to train my eyes to notice these things. Thanks again Codger. I love learning and I really love learning about the things that I like.:thumbup:
 
Here is an old magazine ad. Was the claim true?



And another one.

 
Last edited:
I'd say that that is truth in advertising.
 
Here is a picture of the inventor with his invention, the Sharp Finger knife and I believe a Honesteel. We can guesstimate the year by the sheath on Henry's desk.



Henry Baer was very active in Schrade knife design. He and Mr. Dave Swinden seldom get the credit they deserve. Henry gave the design to Dave, who gave it to Buley after he tweeked it for easier production. Buley produced a prototype (a true prototype, not one of those certificate things) completely handmade and presented it to the designers for further critique and refinement.
 
Last edited:
Codger_64 said:
Here is a picture of the inventor with his invention, the Sharp Finger knife and I believe a Honesteel. We can guesstimate the year by the sheath on Henry's desk.

2hpsy1l.jpg


Henry Baer was very active in Schrade knife design. He and Mr. Dave Swinden seldom get the credit they deserve. Henry gave the design to Dave, who gave it to Buley after he tweeked it for easier production. Buley produced a prototype (a true prototype, not one of those certificate things) completely handmade and presented it to the designers for further critique and refinement.
Click to expand...

Great pic and great info. I'm glad Dave Swindon and Harold Buley are still doing their thing. I can't help but wish that I was "Uncle Davey" with all of Schrade to manufacture my whims. How cool would that have been?!? Gotta love the fish on the wall too. Henry Baer could have had an original Picasso on his wall if he wanted one but he went with a fish. GOOD CALL! Keepin' it real...
 
Yes, I believe that is the work of Herman Williams. Very nice!
50-Herman-Williams1568248661.jpg

A nice mix in the "6-pack picture too!
1. H. Williams custom
2. 152UH
3. Production Sharpfinger 152OT
4. Unscrimmed 502SC
5. '01 Federal Duck Stamp DS15?
6. SMKW SFO 152OTO
sywlxd.jpg
 
Last edited:
Dave Thinkstoomuch said:
Great pic and great info. I'm glad Dave Swindon and Harold Buley are still doing their thing. I can't help but wish that I was "Uncle Davey" with all of Schrade to manufacture my whims. How cool would that have been?!? Gotta love the fish on the wall too. Henry Baer could have had an original Picasso on his wall if he wanted one but he went with a fish. GOOD CALL! Keepin' it real...
Click to expand...

Oh, Mr. Swinden paid his dues and had plenty of crosses to bear. It was hardly all fun and games, I am certain, particularly close to the end. IIRC, he was essentially retired but still working. He was there when the outside turn-around specialist and advisors drove the train off the tracks. Can you imagine how frustrating that was?

Henry, it is related, was a dedicated fisherman and one of his fishing pals was Ted "The Splendid Splinter" Williams. That is how those uncommon fishing gaff knives came about. Some time ago, I was asked about the gnarled appearance of Henry's hands. Arthritus is one explanation, but I can't help but remember his traumatic accident a few years after he returned from his service in WWI. He fell down an open elevator shaft, four floors, and broke about everything that could be broken. He spent months in Belvue recovering from his injuries. Perhaps Dave knows for sure since he knew Henry for many years.
 
Codger_64 said:
Oh, Mr. Swinden paid his dues and had plenty of crosses to bear. It was hardly all fun and games, I am certain, particularly close to the end. IIRC, he was essentially retired but still working. He was there when the outside turn-around specialist and advisors drove the train off the tracks. Can you imagine how frustrating that was?

Henry, it is related, was a dedicated fisherman and one of his fishing pals was Ted "The Splendid Splinter" Williams. That is how those uncommon fishing gaff knives came about. Some time ago, I was asked about the gnarled appearance of Henry's hands. Arthritus is one explanation, but I can't help but remember his traumatic accident a few years after he returned from his service in WWI. He fell down an open elevator shaft, four floors, and broke about everything that could be broken. He spent months in Belvue recovering from his injuries. Perhaps Dave knows for sure since he knew Henry for many years.
Click to expand...

I'm sure it wasn't all fun and games. No business is and watching one fail that you are invested in is a very painful thing indeed.

My guess on Henry's hands (after watching my Mother struggle with arthritis and learning along the way) is that the one could well have led to the other. Broken joints (and other soft-tissue injuries) are susceptible to arthritis setting in. You can certainly get "calcium lumps" forming around fractures too. To me his hands have the look of arthritis though. I remember reading about the gaff-knife in another thread. More gems as always from the deep well that is this forum...
 
6 outa 6 Codger , Herman's is the favourite but i like em all.Always carry a 152 when i go bush,very handy little knife.Great thread.
How did ya make the photo's up from the photobucket link ?
 
If I wasn't already hooked on this design, these pics would certainly put me over the edge. Those are absolutely amazing examples of this beautiful knife.
 
I am still waiting for you guys to buy me a good digital camera. Here is the 100th Anniversary issue. As most of you are aware, Schrade closed forever in July of their 100th year and many of the planned anniversary editions were either produced in small quantities or not at all when production ceased. I have only seen a very few of these 152ANN knives. Luckily I scored one from the bankruptcy auction. It is hard to see from the eBay photo, but the covers are birdseye maple.

56-100th-Anniversary1568248857.jpg

And from Mr. Langston, one of the header boards from the planned 100th anniversary displays.
56-100th-Anniversary-Sign1568248749.jpg
 
Codger_64 said:
I am still waiting for you guys to buy me a good digital camera. Here is the 100th Anniversary issue. As most of you are aware, Schrade closed forever in July of their 100th year and many of the planned anniversary editions were either produced in small quantities or not at all when production ceased. I have only seen a very few of these 152ANN knives. Luckily I scored one from the bankruptcy auction. It is hard to see from the eBay photo, but the covers are birdseye maple.

Hi Codger,
I found a new unopened Schrade Display, about 4 years back. It had been delivered to a hardware shop in Le Mars about February 2004.
The unused Display came with another box, with the stock, of six of all the knives in the display.
Now you have filled in the missing spot in my Anniversary Display Unit.
When the Display arrived I had a load of stock to fill it. However, you have the only knife that was missing in my Display.
I then filled that spot with a early knife (1974) that came in a Brown Box.
Now Larry303 will not sell me that old 3OT he has for $50, so now I will have to offer you $60 for that Newer Knife.
Then again, like my mate Larry, you could let me see it from time to time! for free.
Is your Anniversary sign painted on both sides? My one is ….. Ken
Click to expand...
 
Yes, the anniversary header board is coated on all sides in black, is thick composition board. I have another for the True Value Hardware display that was used with their Master Mechanic knives. Yes, I have an example of the short-lived MM152 Sharpfinger as well.
 
Codger_64 said:
I wonder what came of their plan to offer them in a gift box with a sharpening stone?
Click to expand...

I haven't seen them in a set like that, but these are common:

OldTimergiftset.jpg


No one's posted this version yet, the Grand Dad's Old Timer Limited series:

GrandDadsOldTimerset.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top